Partial Resection of Left Upper Lobe on a Right Pneumonectomy Patient −Under Collapsing of Left Upper Lobe with Bronchial Blocker−

Abstract

Contralateral partial lung resection after pneumonectomy is very rare because perioperative mortality is high. There is therefore no definite criteria for performing surgery or for which surgical procedure should be chosen. Thoracoscopic surgery is preferable to thoracotomy in terms of postoperative respiratory function and postoperative respiratory complications. To preserve postoperative respiratory function, partial lung resection after pneumonectomy is particularly important. Airway managements of lung collapse is necessary to secure surgical fields for thoracoscopic surgery. Thoracoscopic surgery after pneumonectomy requires paticularly difficult airway management and is challenging for anesthesiologists. In this case report, we describe the usefulness of a bronchial blocker in thoracoscopic partial lung resection of left upper lobe in a patient who received right pneumonectomy.